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[angel]

I'm still in the airdrying camp. But roll away if you must, Larry C.

Hey: is the hotel hairdryer an option?

[voxprincipalis]

As part of my "green living" philosophy, I don't use the hotel towels at all.  Instead I jump from the shower and roll naked on the carpet to dry.

Stop, you're making me all flustered.

VP

[yellowtractor]

OP, you may be just fine either way.  It's possible the SCC will be too busy with other matters to communicate effectively with the hotel management.  If I were you, I'd focus on the aspects of your interview that you control, more or less directly.

For instance, the dinner test, which can be quite complicated.  It's a good idea to rehearse dinner before you go on a campus interview.  Try having some acquaintances (not close friends, but not enemies either) take you out to a reasonably nice restaurant.  You'll want to make conversation, of course--discover common interests, seem generally affable etc.--even as you decode some of the key questions an SC might use to "trap" you.  Most of these "trap" questions will emerge toward the end of the meal.  Beware especially the "dessert dilemma."  As with the towels, there is almost certainly no "correct" answer; you may find yourself answering guilelessly, or even honestly, and blowing your chances at a very good job.

If asked whether you want to order dessert, a good strategy is to find a way to turn the question on your interlocutor.  "Why, are you having some?" is frequently a good response.  Or you could tell a funny story about the time you were asked that question at your fiancee's birthday party, or something like that.  (Beware, however, offering up too much personal information, especially regarding any family situation or partner issues you might have.)

During the interview itself, you may be asked whether you would "like some coffee."  This seemingly innocuous question may be glossed at the level of "like," "some," or "coffee" itself and is thus one of the more complex hurdles you will face during your interview.  The "Coffee Conundrum"--as it is known in SC circles--is sufficiently complex to warrant its own thread.  As a CHE article late last year suggested, your best bet (as a neophyte) may be to sidestep all three interpretive strata by smiling and saying "A glass of water would be just fine."

Again, good luck.  Try not to worry.  Let us know how the interview goes.

[angel]

Now, now, Tractor. You're making the dessert scenario needlessly complicated. There is, in fact, one correct answer: chocolate fudge.

[yellowtractor]

Now, now, Tractor. You're making the dessert scenario needlessly complicated. There is, in fact, one correct answer: chocolate fudge.

Like so many things, I think this varies from field to field.  I understand that in many of the hard sciences, and also statistics and information technology, "chocolate fudge" would be a perfectly acceptable answer (assuming the restaurant in question has chocolate fudge on the dessert menu).  In my field, on the other hand (in the humanities), this would be a risky choice.

I forgot to mention that in glossing the "Coffee Conundrum" I was speaking of coffee offered to the candidate during the interview itself, i.e. while on campus, by an SC member, administrator, or administrative assistant.  An offer of coffee at the conclusion of a successful dinner is different--it is merely an offer of coffee, nothing more or less.  If you get to that point in the "dinner," you can assume you've done reasonably well.

[dr_crankypants]

As part of my "green living" philosophy, I don't use the hotel towels at all.  Instead I jump from the shower and roll naked on the carpet to dry.

That was so an image I did not need in my head. 

[henri]

Towels aside, if you have allergies of any sort you'll want to phone ahead.  For example, a few times I've been placed in a swanky B&B.  I'm allergic to feather pillows and the like....

[dr_crankypants]

The dessert question is easy: cheesecake.  MMmmmmmm.....  I will not vote for you if you turn down an opportunity for cheesecake. 

But the tougher question about towels: when the hotel leaves the sign about saving detergent and water by reusing your towels, do you reuse them?  Do you risk looking like an anti-environmental, SUV-driving, carbon-emitting fiend, or do you accept the loss of fluffiness for the second day of use? 

[angel]

The dessert question is easy: cheesecake.  MMmmmmmm.....  I will not vote for you if you turn down an opportunity for cheesecake. 

I won't vote for you if you order jello with vegetables in it. I'd be afraid you'd make it someday and out of politeness I'd be forced to eat it. Head these things off at the pass, I say.

[essere_due]

The only correct dessert in my field is BREAD PUDDING.

At dinner on campus, the SCC announced the best dessert was bread pudding, and he ordered one serving for himself.
When he asked me what I wanted, I answered: bread pudding too.

[essere_due]

The SCC did ask me about the hotel towels after he asked what I wanted for dessert.

[yellowtractor]

The SCC did ask me about the hotel towels after he asked what I wanted for dessert.

See, you think I am joking, but in fact I am not.

Angel, the wacky jello thread was a while ago.  We're trying to be serious here.  The job market is arcane and distressing enough without these sorts of extracurricular distractions.

I had forgotten about the bed & breakfast variation.  I've been lodged in a B&B once on a campus interview and to be honest didn't know what to do.  Perhaps some of our more experienced posters or SCC's can comment?

[edwidge]

I stayed at a B&B on one campus visit. It was beautiful and close to campus, the bed was firm, and the towels were fluffy (no rolling around on the carpet for me, no siree). Did I mention the department also had a gift basket waiting for me, full of yummy fruit, crackers, and local delicacies? And that the Dean huself, all warm and friendly-like, picked me up from the airport and dropped me off at the B&B?

[expatinuk]

This is actually a true story...

I was once asked to be a judge at a multimedia competition in Austria. They flew all of us judges in for a week and housed us in the local university's student apartments. They did furnish the apartments with towels. However, there was no SOAP.

[yellowtractor]

I stayed at a B&B on one campus visit. It was beautiful and close to campus, the bed was firm, and the towels were fluffy (no rolling around on the carpet for me, no siree). Did I mention the department also had a gift basket waiting for me, full of yummy fruit, crackers, and local delicacies? And that the Dean huself, all warm and friendly-like, picked me up from the airport and dropped me off at the B&B?

YOU ATE FOOD FROM THE GIFT BASKET???